"Sensitively told story, full of warmth and hope despite the subject matter - the experiences of two young Afghan boys as they make their way to England as refugees."
After their families are killed by the Taliban, Samim and his best friend Zayn first flee their village in Afghanistan with their uncle and then they leave their country too. They travel across continents, by bus, lorry, boat, train, car and finally an overcrowded dinghy to arrive in England. Their journey takes two years, ten months and 26 days – numbers are an important support to Samim – and along the way they lose their uncle, and another good friend too.
Indeed, when we first meet Samim, finally placed in a foster home in the UK, Zayn is there only as a ghost, though the same lively, optimistic, funny friend he’s always been. Their journey is long and difficult, but the boys meet lots of people who are kind and who help them, as well as those who are and do the opposite. And they meet people like them too, escaping intolerable conditions and terrible danger, desperate for the chance to live ordinary lives again.
Samim’s narrative moves back and forward in time, as he describes the stages of their journey to the UK authorities, and life at his new school to Zayn. Terrible as things get, their story is always filled with hope, and told with warmth and humour; after all, Samim and Zayn are normal eleven-year-olds, who joke and mess about whenever they can. At a time when refugees are regularly demonised, described as less than human, or regarded with fear and suspicion, one of the many strengths of Fidan Meikle’s immensely moving and sensitively written story, is the way it lets us see through Samim’s eyes, as he and Zayn make their journey, forced onto a road they didn’t chose.
"I must make it. I will make it. And I will tell their stories."
Thirteen-year-old Samim is a loyal friend, a gifted chess player -- and a refugee. After his family is killed in a bombing, Samim makes a long, dangerous journey from Afghanistan to the UK. But even then his safety isn't guaranteed: Samim must tell his story to convince the authorities to let him stay for good.
Samim relives the perils he faced and remembers the many friends he made and lost - the intrepid girl who dressed as a boy for safety, the courageous grandmother seeking a new home for her nine grandchildren, and especially his funny, spirited best friend Zayn.
With his past never forgotten, Samim begins to build a new life in the UK: starting school and making new friends. But he also faces bigoted bullies and an uncertain future. Will Samim be granted asylum and allowed to stay in his new home?
My Name is Samim is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of courage, resilience and friendship. Highlighting the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers, readers will empathise with Samim as he strives for a safe home and a better future. Fidan Meikle is a stunning new voice in middle-grade fiction. Her wry, heartfelt and immersive writing will draw readers into Samim's world.
‘Shines a light on the challenges that face so many.’ – Amnesty International UK
‘A book that should be available in every school.’ – Lisa Thompson, author of Goldfish Boy
‘Moving, heart-breaking and ultimately uplifting, this is a topical, timely novel with a very important message.’ – Children’s Books Ireland
Author
About Fidan Meikle
Fidan Meikle is an Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator. She writes poetry and prose for children and adults. When she isn�t writing, Fidan can be found teaching languages, indulging her love of Azerbaijani cuisine, or exploring the Scottish Highlands with her husband and children. Her debut middle-grade novel, My Name is Samim, is inspired by the true stories of young refugees who undertake courageous journeys in the hope of finding a safe home. She lives in West Lothian, Scotland.
